Vista - TV Channel wont play at first - "The Channel May Not Be Supported" (it is)

**Ex_Brit** · 08-09-2008

After months of flawless performance my WMC is acting up on one TV channel and I can't figure out why.
The only change recently was that I enabled the DVD Library to be displayed with a registry hack as per a seemingly reliable article I read.
This is only happening the first time after I boot.

I call up WMC and go to the TV Guide. If I select Channel 50 (only) it will not tune in and I get a screen that says
"Cannot Play Program"
"The channel may not be supported. If you cannot tune to any other channel,
restart WMC or restart the computer, then try again"

If I then use the guide to go down or up one channel they play OK and
returning to ch50 - it then plays fine. Very odd.

Any ideas anyone?

The registry tweak was, I realised afterwards, unnecessary as I'm not using
this machine as a media center anyway and I'm not sure what the original
setting was.
Now it is set at..
HKCU>Software>Microsoft>Windows>CurrentVersion>Media
Center>Settings>DVDSettings
Showgallery - regsz - gallery

I have tried reloading the guide from my cableco and it seems to go without any hitch.

**Clevo** · 08-11-2008

It might seem painfully obvious but have you tried removing the DVD library registry hack you mentioned...everything seemed to work, as you said, before that hack

**Ex_Brit** · 08-11-2008

I would if I knew what the default entry is for that particular item. I don't have a restore point unfortunately.

I found the "hack" which is a misnomer I suppose as Microsoft published it: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/930526

**johngalt** · 08-11-2008

Code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Media Center\Settings\DvdSettings]
@=""
"ShowGallery"="Play"

Copy the text above into notepad, save as a .reg entry on your desktop, then import it into the registry.

Voila!

**Ex_Brit** · 08-11-2008

Thanks. After 1 reboot it seems to be OK. I'll keep an eye on it. Much appreciated.

**johngalt** · 08-11-2008

Yer welcome - and a beautiful signature image there as well.

**Ex_Brit** · 08-11-2008

Thanks.

**Ex_Brit** · 08-14-2008

It's doing it again, so there must be a glitch somewhere. If I go straight to live TV and 50 is the last channel I had tuned to, it gives the error. But if I then call up the guide and click on the channel from there it plays.

Very strange and it appears to be only that one channel out of the 100-odd that I can bring in.

**johngalt** · 08-14-2008

Is it possible that that channel is simply experiencing a lot of interference on your cable line? I'd call the cable company and have them run line tests....

**Ex_Brit** · 08-14-2008

Did that and it tested out OK. It has no problems via cable direct to my TV either. I think something has corrupted the WMC database somehow. It's not serious as I can eventually tune it in.

08-09-2008	#1 (permalink)
Ex_Brit Vista Ultimate SP2/Windows 7 Ultimate x64 524 posts	TV Channel wont play at first - "The Channel May Not Be Supported" (it is) After months of flawless performance my WMC is acting up on one TV channel and I can't figure out why. The only change recently was that I enabled the DVD Library to be displayed with a registry hack as per a seemingly reliable article I read. This is only happening the first time after I boot. I call up WMC and go to the TV Guide. If I select Channel 50 (only) it will not tune in and I get a screen that says "Cannot Play Program" "The channel may not be supported. If you cannot tune to any other channel, restart WMC or restart the computer, then try again" If I then use the guide to go down or up one channel they play OK and returning to ch50 - it then plays fine. Very odd. Any ideas anyone? The registry tweak was, I realised afterwards, unnecessary as I'm not using this machine as a media center anyway and I'm not sure what the original setting was. Now it is set at.. HKCU>Software>Microsoft>Windows>CurrentVersion>Media Center>Settings>DVDSettings Showgallery - regsz - gallery I have tried reloading the guide from my cableco and it seems to go without any hitch.
My System Specs

08-11-2008	#2 (permalink)
Clevo Vista Home Premium 64bit 552 posts	Re: TV Channel wont play at first - "The Channel May Not Be Supported" (it is) It might seem painfully obvious but have you tried removing the DVD library registry hack you mentioned...everything seemed to work, as you said, before that hack
My System Specs

08-11-2008	#3 (permalink)
Ex_Brit Vista Ultimate SP2/Windows 7 Ultimate x64 524 posts	Re: TV Channel wont play at first - "The Channel May Not Be Supported" (it is) I would if I knew what the default entry is for that particular item. I don't have a restore point unfortunately. I found the "hack" which is a misnomer I suppose as Microsoft published it: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/930526
My System Specs

08-11-2008	#4 (permalink)
johngalt Vista Ultimate x64 MAK, OpenSolaris 5, Gentoo 2008.1.... 3,848 posts	Re: TV Channel wont play at first - "The Channel May Not Be Supported" (it is) Code: Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00 [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Media Center\Settings\DvdSettings] @="" "ShowGallery"="Play" Copy the text above into notepad, save as a .reg entry on your desktop, then import it into the registry. Voila!
My System Specs

08-11-2008	#5 (permalink)
Ex_Brit Vista Ultimate SP2/Windows 7 Ultimate x64 524 posts	Re: TV Channel wont play at first - "The Channel May Not Be Supported" (it is) Thanks. After 1 reboot it seems to be OK. I'll keep an eye on it. Much appreciated.
My System Specs

08-11-2008	#6 (permalink)
johngalt Vista Ultimate x64 MAK, OpenSolaris 5, Gentoo 2008.1.... 3,848 posts	Re: TV Channel wont play at first - "The Channel May Not Be Supported" (it is) Yer welcome - and a beautiful signature image there as well.
My System Specs

08-11-2008	#7 (permalink)
Ex_Brit Vista Ultimate SP2/Windows 7 Ultimate x64 524 posts	Re: TV Channel wont play at first - "The Channel May Not Be Supported" (it is) Thanks.
My System Specs

08-14-2008	#8 (permalink)
Ex_Brit Vista Ultimate SP2/Windows 7 Ultimate x64 524 posts	Re: TV Channel wont play at first - "The Channel May Not Be Supported" (it is) It's doing it again, so there must be a glitch somewhere. If I go straight to live TV and 50 is the last channel I had tuned to, it gives the error. But if I then call up the guide and click on the channel from there it plays. Very strange and it appears to be only that one channel out of the 100-odd that I can bring in.
My System Specs

08-14-2008	#9 (permalink)
johngalt Vista Ultimate x64 MAK, OpenSolaris 5, Gentoo 2008.1.... 3,848 posts	Re: TV Channel wont play at first - "The Channel May Not Be Supported" (it is) Is it possible that that channel is simply experiencing a lot of interference on your cable line? I'd call the cable company and have them run line tests....
My System Specs

08-14-2008	#10 (permalink)
Ex_Brit Vista Ultimate SP2/Windows 7 Ultimate x64 524 posts	Re: TV Channel wont play at first - "The Channel May Not Be Supported" (it is) Did that and it tested out OK. It has no problems via cable direct to my TV either. I think something has corrupted the WMC database somehow. It's not serious as I can eventually tune it in.
My System Specs

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